Theoretically, the highest-drafted players in the NBA should determine the future of the sport. Millions are spent on scouting by teams to get the draft right. But the draft is not a science.
Occasionally, the biggest stars fall through the cracks—drafted beyond the 10th, 20th, or even 40th pick—only to be the next generational stars.
Jimmy Butler: Last Pick to Playoff Beast
Selected with the 30th overall pick by the Chicago Bulls in 2011, Jimmy Butler wasn't supposed to make much noise in the NBA. Scouts questioned his scoring, and his ceiling was questioned. But in a draft full of busts such as Derrick Williams and Jan Veselý, Butler proved himself to be an actual star.
Butler is now the poster child for clutch performances and resilience. With his notorious work ethic and playoff heroics, he's taken the Miami Heat to the postseason on several occasions. Although he hasn't won a ring yet, Butler's contribution as a two-way player and leader cannot be denied.
Read more: Insider Reveals Michael Malone's Reaction After Being Fired by Denver Nuggets: 'I Don't Blame Him'
Kobe Bryant: A Legend Overlooked 12 Times
Kobe Bryant's tale is one of the most notorious in draft lore. Picked 13th overall in the 1996 NBA Draft, Bryant was initially drafted by the Charlotte Hornets, who subsequently traded him to the Los Angeles Lakers for Vlade Divac. The rest, as they say, is history.
Kobe became a five-time NBA Champion, two-time Finals MVP, 18-time All-Star, and one of the top scorers in league history with 33,643 career points. How 12 teams avoided him is still one of the greatest what-ifs in basketball.
John Stockton: The Assist King Nobody Saw Coming
John Stockton went 16th overall to the Utah Jazz in the 1984 NBA Draft, overshadowed by giants such as Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon. However, Stockton forged a Hall of Fame career of his own, topping the NBA in assists (15,806) and steals.
He topped the league in assists for nine consecutive seasons, a record that could potentially never be surpassed. A 10-time All-Star and 11-time All-NBA choice, Stockton was the epitome of a floor general and one of the integral cogs of Utah's '90s dominance.
Giannis Antetokounmpo: The Greek Freak No One Believed In
Giannis Antetokounmpo was picked 15th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in 2013, a draft that began with one of the biggest busts of all time—Anthony Bennett. At the time, Giannis was an unrefined, long kid, with not much tape to evaluate his upside.
Fast-forward 10 years, and Giannis is a two-time MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, NBA Champion, and Finals MVP. His paint presence, world-class defense, and tireless drive have rendered him one of the league's most feared players today.
Nikola Jokić: The MVP Pick No One Watched Live
Nikola Jokić was taken 41st overall by the Denver Nuggets in the 2014 NBA Draft, during a Taco Bell commercial, no less. Today, Jokić is regarded as the best second-round pick in NBA history.
The Serbian center has won two MVPs, took the Nuggets to their first-ever NBA Championship in 2023, and still produces jaw-dropping statistics. In the 2025–25 season, he averaged 29.6 points, 10.2 assists, and 12.7 rebounds per game.
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